The topic that we learned this week is “Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle Habits in US Adults, 1988- 2006”. The aim of the study was to compare adherence to healthy lifestyle habits in adults between 1988 and 2006.

       From the study we know the incidence of many diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, are related to lifestyle factors. Physical inactivity, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, smoking, and obesity contribute a large measure to the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, and are the underlying cause of premature death in cardiovascular and other diseases. Thus, decreasing adherence to healthy habits will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the future incidence of premature death and disease. This study aimed to analysis of adherence to 5 healthy lifestyle trends (≥5 fruits and vegetables/day, regular exercise ≥12 times/month, maintaining healthy weight [body mass index 18.5-29.9 kg/m²], moderate alcohol consumption [up to 1 drink/day for women, 2/day for men] and not smoking) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 were compared with results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006 among adults aged 40-74 years.

      As a result, over the last 18 years, obesity has increased from 28% to 36%; regular physical activity has decreased from 53% to 43%; and eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day has decreased from 42% to 26% among adults aged 40-74 years. Adherence to all 5 healthy habits has gone from 15% to 8% (P<0.05). Although adherence to a healthy lifestyle was lower among minorities, adherence decreased more among non-Hispanic Whites over the period. Individuals with a history of hypertension/diabetes/cardiovascular disease were no more likely to be adherent to a healthy lifestyle than people without these conditions.（Hua Yan）